Prime Minister Robert Muldoon announces the expulsion of the Russian ambassador to New Zealand, Mr.Sofinsky. He says this is unconnected with sanctions announced against the Soviet Union due to the invasion of Afghanistan.
Mr Sofinsky's reply at a news conference. Through an interpreter he denies charge of passing money to New Zealand's Socialist Unity Party, although they have paid for airfares to the Soviet Union for members of the S.U.P.
Journalist Tim Birch reports on reactions to the move and speculation in diplomatic circles about where the Soviet embassy passed the money to the S.U.P. The expectation is New Zealand's Moscow ambassador will be expelled in retaliation. The presumed infiltration of the S.U.P. by the Security Intelligence Service is seen as a great success for the S.I.S.